Valve construction for inflatable articles



Oct. 4,1927. 1,644,096

w. J. vorr VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR INFLATABLE ARTICLES Filed April 23,1927 u I v 2 71%57 i atented Oct. 4, 1927.

WILLIAM J. VOI'LOF LOS .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR INFLATABLE ARTICLES.

Application filed April 23, 1927. Serial No.

This invention relates to such devices as rubber cushions and ballswhich are adapted to be inflated with air. when used, and the object ofthe invention is to provide a novel and thoroughly serviceable valvestructure which may be easily placed and held in sealing positionwithout protrusion or gapping of any of the parts.

' Briefly stated, the invention resides in the positioning of valveparts entirely within a soft rubber article, said parts being flexibleand including a soft rubber tube adapted to project through a slit inthe article, theinner end of the tube being secured to a soft rubberpiece in turn secured to the inner wall of said article. To preventgapping or spreading of the. slit a preferably non-elastic device isdisposed between said wall and said rubber piece to span the slit, thetube being folded beneath said. device to seal the same and preventescape of air. Such other features of novelty as may be herein disclosedare also comprised in the invention.

In the accompanyin drawings, wherein one embodiment of the 1nvention isdisclosed by way of illustration,

Fig. l is a lan view of a rubber cushionequipped therewith.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan with parts broken away indicating thearrangement when the tube is withdrawn for inflation.

Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing the tube withdrawn.

Fig. 5 is a section taken Fig. a; and

Fig. 6 is a similar section showing the tube folded and tucked away toseal the same against loss of air.

The cushion as shown (or other article} ordinarily will be composed twosheets 18 of soft rubber vulcanized together at their edges, a softrubber tube 15?; being to project through a slit fi l in one of saidsheets. The inner end the tube 12 is flanged and cemented er vulcanizedat iii to a soft rubber piece which may be in iorm of disc and is cernend or gen vulcanized at 18 to ticle. Located 1 p inner wal -rid saidpiece it? is a other reiatively inelastic element 20 hi 9 to sai on theline 5-5 of merited or vulcanized at 4.2 wail, and in the particuiar""erin element is composed o" slit l and have their ends secured to thepart 10. This device or element 20 is adapted to be separated to form anopening 20 (Fig. 3) extending transversely of 'slit 14 to accommodatetube 12 when the latter is withdrawn, and to close over the tube whenfolded and tucked away under the element as in Fig 6 when the same istobe sealed for use. The inelastic element 20 performs two functions;first, the retaining of the tube when folded, and second, the preventionof spreading or gapping of the slit 14 when said tube is folded away andthe article is inflated. This dispositio'nof the folded tube togetherwith the pressure exerted by the inflation, insures sufficientcompression of the folded tube to elfectuall prevent escape of air. Atthe same time, t e surface of-the article remains smooth anduninterrupted after inflation and produces a desirable and attractivepiece of goods. In manufacture, the valve structure may be easilyassembled b positioning the fabric section 20 and the piece 16 beforethe sheets 10 are assembled.

To inflate the'device', the tube 12 is withdrawn through the slit 14 byspreading the cords 20 to form an opening as at 20'in Fig. 7

3, the tube assumingthe position of Figs. 4 and 5. When the article isproperly indated the tube is folded and tucked under the cords whichclose over the folded tube and retainthie same as seen in Fig. 6. Fig. 1

f t through said element so be folded beneath n inflation.

- ole article having slit iillGTE'. e within the article and sealedwal'i thereof beneath T said piece and adapted adapted to project u,fabric element secured to said inner wall between said inner wall andsaid piece and beneath said slit, said element being relativelyinextensible in a direction transverse to -said slit and being 5 adaptedto beseparated to pass said tube.

to said inner wall beneath said slit and be- In Witness that I claim theforegoing it have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day at April,1927.

- WILLIAM J. VUIT.

